There are few things more satisfying in video games than purchasing upgrades; you get to take your favorite skills or equipment and make them even better, furthering your power fantasy. In games like Doom: The Dark Ages, your weapons can become ludicrously strong, making the demon hordes a breeze to battle through.
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Upgrades won’t come cheap, though; you’ll need to be on the lookout for various resources as you make your way through the campaign. Discovering secret areas and completing challenges will reward you handsomely, letting you enhance your arsenal to be even more effective.
Upgrades, Explained
The Dark Ages has three currencies you should be on the lookout for: gold, rubies, and Wraithstone. Gold is the easiest one to find; it will be scattered around most levels in plain sight, and you can pick it up with ease.
Rubies and Wraithstone are a bit more difficult. They will be hidden in secret areas throughout the game, and some may challenge you to a combat encounter or an environmental puzzle. These are worth completing, as both currencies are essential for powerful equipment upgrades.
Gun Upgrades
During the course of the Dark Ages’ campaign, you’ll gain access to 11 unique firearms. Each has its own upgrade paths, and you’ll need a lot of materials in order to bring all of them to their full potential.
Some guns have dual upgrade tiers, meaning you’ll have two upgrade options for the price of one. You’ll be able to switch between the two at any time.
Combat Shotgun
You’ll begin the game with the Combat Shotgun. It offers decent damage, and can set enemies ablaze so they drop health pickups.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Incendiary |
Shooting demons will set them ablaze and make them drop armor. |
50 gold |
|
Smelt |
Demons drop more armor. |
125 gold |
|
Blast |
Demons explode when they die. |
|
|
Tune Up |
The Combat Shotgun will fire in three-round bursts. |
1 ruby |
|
Flare-Up |
Burn is applied immediately to fodder enemies. |
|
|
Eat This! |
The Combat Shotgun fires an increased number of projectiles per shot. |
1 Wraithstone |
Super Shotgun
The Super Shotgun is the Combat Shotgun’s more powerful cousin. It can decimate even the strongest enemies in a few shots, and can be found in The Holy City of Aratum.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Speed Loader |
The time between shots is reduced. |
250 gold |
|
Shatter |
Shots do increased damage to armor. |
3 rubies |
|
Eat This! |
The Super Shotgun fires an increased number of projectiles per shot. |
1 Wraithstone |
Shredder
The Shredder is the Dark Ages’ equivalent of the traditional assault rifle. You’ll get it in the Village of Khalim.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Pincushion |
Shooting a demon with enough rounds will make them glow. Parrying an attack or throwing your shield at them will then cause them to explode, damaging enemies over a wide radius. |
75 gold |
|
Ricochet |
Shooting an enemy after you’ve thrown your shield at them will cause shots to hit others. |
|
|
No Frills |
The Shredder’s rate of fire is increased. |
1 ruby |
|
Barbed |
Detonated/ricocheted projectiles do more damage, and executing a shield charge will now set off Pincushion. |
1 Wraithstone |
Impaler
The Impaler functions similarly to a sniper rifle, dishing out high damage in single shots. It’ll be added to your arsenal in the Sentinel Barracks.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Stalwart |
Shield throws, parries, or charges will drop Impaler ammo. |
150 gold |
|
Salvage |
Picking up ammo will buff your next shot. |
2 rubies |
|
Chronospike |
Holding the shoot button will slow time. Any shots fired during this time will be buffed. |
|
|
Lobotomy |
Headshots with the Impaler will help recharge melee. |
1 Wraithstone |
Accelerator
If you’re searching for a submachine gun, look no further than the Accelerator, offering a high rate of fire while sacrificing accuracy. It’s located in Hebeth.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Feedback |
Shooting demons builds charge, increasing damage. |
75 gold |
|
Stabilizer |
The spread is reduced at maximum charge. |
150 gold |
|
Modulator |
The rate of fire is increased at maximum charge. |
|
|
Heatblast |
Releasing the fire button at maximum charge unleashes a large blast. |
1 ruby |
|
Mega Cell |
The time it takes to lose charge is increased. |
|
|
Overload |
Shooting at maximum charge will cause the Accelerator to become supercharged, further increasing damage. |
1 Wraithstone |
Cycler
The Cycler offers a slower rate of fire, but can chain lightning between enemies, causing them to explode. You can get your hands on it when you visit The Holy City of Aratum.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Shock |
Shooting demons applies shock, making them take increased damage. Killing shocked enemies causes the shock to spread to other nearby enemies. |
100 gold |
|
Amplify |
Increases damage to shocked enemies. |
200 gold |
|
Fulmination |
The duration of shock is increased, and enemies now spread more lightning to others when killed. |
2 rubies |
|
Overload |
Killing shocked demons builds charge, increasing damage. |
1 Wraithstone |
Pulverizer
The Pulverizer differentiates itself from other weapons through its wide bullet spray, perfect for crowd control. You’ll get it in the Sentinel Barracks.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Runic Skull |
Killing demons with Pulverizer or melee builds charge, increasing your movement speed and rate of fire. |
100 gold |
|
Runic Strike |
Melee attacks will build and maintain charge. |
2 rubies |
|
Flay |
Increases the Pulverizer’s spread over a wider area. |
1 Wraithstone |
Ravager
The Ravager functions similarly to the Pulverizer, but it has a focused spread and becomes more powerful the longer you fire it. You can find it in the Sentinel Command Station.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Vampirism |
At maximum fire rate, demons killed by the Ravager will drop more health. |
250 gold |
|
Ignition |
It takes the Ravager less time to reach max fire rate, and you can move faster while firing. |
3 rubies |
|
Slow Burn |
The max fire rate is increased, but it takes longer to achieve, and your movement is nerfed further. |
|
|
Supplier |
Demons killed with the Ravager drop ammo. |
1 Wraithstone |
Chainshot
The Chainshot is unique in that it doesn’t function like a typical firearm; instead, it shoots out a cannonball before pulling it back in. It joins your arsenal during Siege – Part 1.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Eldritch Blessing |
Parrying an attack instantly charges your next shot. |
150 gold |
|
Gravitational Flux |
The Chainshot deals more damage to armor at max charge. |
3 rubies |
|
Cosmic Breach |
Max charge shots now explode on contact. |
1 Wraithstone |
Grenade Launcher
The first of two explosive weapons, the grenade launcher helps you turn demons into bloody chunks. You’ll find it in the Abyssal Forest.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Fragment |
Every three direct hits spawn a cluster of smaller grenades. |
250 gold |
|
Rupture |
Enemies hit with your shield and shot with grenades drop clusters of smaller grenades. |
3 rubies |
|
Cataclysm |
Every two direct hits spawn a cluster of smaller grenades. |
1 Wraithstone |
Rocket Launcher
Finally, the rocket launcher allows you to shoot explosive projectiles, destroying even the sturdiest demons. It will be given to you in The Forsaken Plains.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Cannibalism |
Parrying an attack temporarily causes any self-damage done by rockets to heal you. |
250 gold |
|
Cooked |
Parrying projectiles buffs your next shot. |
3 rubies |
|
Blood Sacrifice |
Shots deal more splash damage but also more self-damage. |
|
|
Bloodlust |
Cannibalism lasts longer. |
1 Wraithstone |
Melee Upgrades
The Dark Ages places much more of a focus on melee combat than any previous Doom game, giving you three different options to dismantle enemies with.
Power Gauntlet
You’re given the Power Gauntlet while in the Village of Khalim. It lets you deliver meaty punches to the hordes, some so powerful that their bodies fall apart.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Finisher |
Buffs the final hit of your melee combo. |
50 gold |
|
Duelist |
Parrying attacks will speed up your melee regeneration. |
100 gold |
|
Jolt |
The first hit of your melee combo will shock demons and cause them to take more damage. |
150 gold |
|
Encore |
Add a fourth hit to your melee combo, but it is only possible to earn this fourth hit by executing parries. |
1 ruby |
Flail
The Flail is an excellent choice if you’re worried about armored enemies, as it can tear through a demon’s protection with ease. You’ll acquire it during the Siege – Part 1.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Conditioning |
Reduces melee recharge time by five seconds. |
75 gold |
|
Ignite |
Hitting demons sets them on fire and drops armor. |
125 gold |
|
Resonant |
Strikes do extra damage to shields and demon armor, while also dropping armor for you. |
200 gold |
|
Engulf |
Strikes set nearby demons on fire as well. |
2 rubies |
Dreadmace
The Dreadmace is by far the most powerful melee weapon, but also takes the longest time to recharge. It’s found in the City of Ry’uul.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Reaper |
Demons killed with the Dreadmace drop more health. |
150 gold |
|
Obliterator |
Strikes deal increased damage to nearby enemies. |
250 gold |
|
Riposte |
Parrying an attack when the Dreadmace is already charged will give you an additional swing. |
3 rubies |
Shield Upgrades
Doom: The Dark Ages’ biggest combat innovation is the introduction of a shield. Not only can it be used to parry attacks, but you can also throw it and charge through demons. It comes with its own upgrade tree, as well as upgrades for Shield Runes, which allow it to perform special abilities.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Retaliation |
Parrying attacks will trigger a more powerful shockwave. |
50 gold |
|
Power Surge |
Hitting energy shields with your shield will cause it to bounce off and hit other enemies. |
75 gold |
|
Extended Edge |
Shield throws will have an extended reach against fodder enemies. |
100 gold |
|
Steadfast |
Your shield will recover faster from taking damage and breaking. |
125 gold |
|
Harvester |
Killing enemies with a shield throw will buff your next shield charge. |
1 ruby |
|
Blade Master |
The stun duration of your shield saw is increased. |
2 rubies |
Ground Fissure
Ground Fissure creates an earthquake-like effect, causing demons to stumble after a parry. You’ll gain access to this rune in the Ancestral Forge.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Aftershock |
Ground Fissure travels further. |
100 gold |
|
Wavefront |
Enemies affected by Ground Fissure are set on fire and drop armor. |
175 gold |
|
Megathrust |
Ground Fissure’s size and damage are further increased. |
300 gold |
Holy Swarm
A swarm of daggers is shot into nearby enemies after a successful parry. This one will be unlocked during Chapter 11: Hellbreaker.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Outbreak |
There are more daggers included in the swarm, and they deal more damage. |
100 gold |
|
Upsurge |
The number of daggers and damage increases again. |
175 gold |
|
Plague |
The number of daggers and damage increases to the max. |
300 gold |
Auto Turret
After executing a parry, a turret will sprout from your shoulder, aiding in an immediate counterattack. You’ll find the Auto Turret in the Sentinel Command Station.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Extended Magazine |
Auto Turret’s duration is increased. |
100 gold |
|
Health Extractor |
Demons hit by the turret drop health pickups. |
175 gold |
|
Rapid Fire |
The turret’s damage and rate of fire are increased. |
300 gold |
Heaven Splitter
If you parry a projectile, a bolt of lightning will stun nearby demons, letting you attack freely. This is the final Shield Rune, given to you in the Spire of Nerathul.
|
Upgrade |
Description |
Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Induction |
Stun duration is increased. |
100 gold |
|
Megaburst |
Heaven Splitter’s area of effect is increased. |
175 gold |
|
Gigawatt |
Enemies hit by Heaven Splitter are shocked and take more damage. |
300 gold |
Next
Doom: The Dark Ages – Prince Ahzrak And Witch Boss Guide
Two bosses, twice the pain.
